Messaging system

ABSTRACT

Messaging system for mobile terminals where the system utilizes a message server which exchanges messages, originating from the terminals, through use of an identification code. The message server grants each terminal access to the messages originating from terminals which use identification codes that belong to the same group of identification codes. The identification codes within each group can be identical or non-identical, and, as for the latter, the message server arranges the identification codes into groups. The message server “stores and forwards” messages, and provides real-time message exchange; and keeps track of which message originates from which terminal, which message has been retrieved by which terminal and, on a group by group basis, which terminals are simultaneously connected to the message server.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a messaging system comprising mobile terminalsoperated by users and a network for connecting the terminals to amessage server comprising means for exchanging messages originating fromthe terminals, making use of an identification code.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Such a system is generally known as a “voice mail” system. A voice mailsystem is, however, limited to the leaving of a message from A intendedfor B and the retrieval of that stored message by B.

People with occupations such as sales reps, maintenance engineers andthe like do not see their colleagues very much and are often on themove. Such people nevertheless still need to communicate with theircolleagues. Moreover, they often travel by car and are therefore limitedin what they can do on the move.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the messaging system according to the invention tomeet the above-mentioned need by facilitating a “mobile newsclub”. Theproposed system can record messages and people can retrieve messagesleft by others. It can keep track of which message comes from whichcolleague and which messages have been retrieved by which colleague. Itcan also keep track of who simultaneously makes use of the mobilenewsclub.

According to the invention, the message server accordingly comprisesaccess means for granting each terminal access to the messagesoriginating from terminals which use identification codes belonging tothe same group of identification codes. By grouping the identificationcodes, groups of users or terminals are formed which can communicategroupwise to one another, either on the basis of “store and forward” orsimultaneously (“real time”). The identification codes can be formedfrom terminal codes which depend on the terminals, or from user codeswhich depend on (and are entered by) the terminal users.

There are several options for grouping the identification codes: theidentification codes within a group can be identical or non-identical,in which latter case the message server comprises grouping means forarranging the identification codes into groups.

The message server can comprise means for the leaving and retrieval(“store and forward”) of messages by terminals with identification codesof the same group of identification codes. The message server can alsocomprise means for (“real time”) sending of messages from one of theterminals to terminals with identification codes of the same group ofidentification codes.

The message server can comprise means for keeping track of which messageoriginates from which terminal. The message server can also comprisemeans for keeping track of which message has been retrieved by whichterminal. Finally, the message server can comprise means for keepingtrack on a group by group basis of which terminals are simultaneouslyconnected to the message server.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to a workingexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of one embodiment of the inventivemessaging system in which terminals utilize a associated group ofidentical identification codes; and

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of another embodiment of the inventivemessaging system in which terminals utilize a associated group ofdifferent identification codes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The accompanying figures show a schematic illustration of the invention:mobile terminals 1 (the system according to the invention is not limitedto use by groups of motorists, but this category of mobile users has aparticular need for such a system) can, via base stations 2 and anetwork 3, link up to one another under the control of a communicationserver 4 (in practice usually a system of servers, databases, etc.).Moreover, the terminals 1 can link up to a message server 5 according tothe invention.

The message server 5 comprises an access module 6 for granting eachterminals 1 access to the messages originating from terminals 1 whichuse identification codes (“ABC”,“DEF”) belonging to the same group ofidentification codes. By grouping the identification codes, groups ofusers or terminals can be formed which can communicate groupwise to oneanother, either on the basis of “store and forward” or simultaneously(“real time”)

The identification codes (“ABC”,“DEF”) can be formed from terminal codeswhich are dependent on (determined by) the terminals, or from (personal)user codes which are dependent on (and entered by) the terminal users.

There are several options for grouping the identification codes: theidentification codes within a group can be identical, as represented byFIG. 1, or non-identical, as represented by FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1 all messages from and to terminals 1 with the sameidentification codes ABC and DEF respectively are routed by accessmodule 6 to an exchange module 7 via which messages from a terminal toterminals with identification codes of the same group, ABC and DEFrespectively, can be exchanged either “real time” or by means of “storeand forward” with the aid of memory modules 8, suitable for leaving andretrieving messages.

In FIG. 2 the message server 5 comprises a grouping module 9 forarranging the (in this case mutually non-identical) identification codesin groups and granting access (as with module 6 in FIG. 1) to the “groupdomains” assigned to the respective groups. The grouping module 9comprises a reference register 10 with references of the identificationcodes, here a,b,c,d,e and f, to the terminal groups or user groups, hereAA or BB respectively. Via the grouping module 9, incoming messages aretransferred to the exchange modules 7 for the various groups AA, BB,etc.

The memory modules 8 can also be used (under the control of the exchangemodules 7) for keeping track of which message originates from whichterminal. In addition, the memory modules 8 can be used for keepingtrack of which message has been retrieved by which terminal. Theexchange modules 7 can also be used for keeping track on a group bygroup (ABC,DEF,AA,BB) basis of which terminals are simultaneouslyconnected to the message server 5.

The service to be implemented with the system described here can, forexample, be used on the move, in a car, if there is a need for contactwith colleagues. The car must have a mobile terminal enabling hands-freephone calls and, preferably, that can be voice operated. Althoughintended primarily for voice, the system also has the capability of(groupwise) data exchange. The system functions as a sort of sharedvoice (and/or data) mailbox for groups of users or terminals.

EXAMPLE OF A DIALOGUE

Sales rep (S): “Call mobile newsclub”

Messaging system (M): “KPN Mobile newsclub”

B: “New messages”

“Harry speaking: Does anyone know where I can find information aboutthis or that?”

“Barry speaking: My wife gave birth to twins yesterday”

M: “No further messages”

M: “Leave a new message?”

S: “Yes”

“There are speed cameras on the A12”

“I've bought a new couch”

“I've just won a new customer”

“Stop”

B: “Pete is also logged in at the moment; do you wish to call him?”

R: “Yes”etc.

1. Apparatus for a message server connected to a network having basestations and a plurality of mobile terminals, the message servercomprising: means for storing a message, originating from any of theterminals in a pre-defined group of said plurality of mobile terminalsand destined for every other terminal in the group, in a shared mailboxresiding within the storing means and shared amongst all the terminalsin the group, with each terminal in the group having a pre-definedidentification code within a corresponding group of identificationcodes, the pre-defined identification code being associated with eitherthe group of terminals itself or said each mobile terminal; and meansfor granting, through use of said group of identification codes, to eachof said terminals in the group of mobile terminals access to the sharedmailbox so as to either retrieve any message already stored therein fromany other terminal in the group of mobile terminals or store a newmessage therein for dissemination to all other terminals in the group ofmobile terminals.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theidentification codes are formed from terminal codes that are dependenton the terminals.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theidentification codes are formed from user codes that are dependent onusers of the terminals.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe identification codes are identical within said group ofidentification codes.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theidentification codes are non-identical within said group ofidentification codes and the message server further comprises groupingmeans for arranging the identification codes into the group ofidentification codes.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein themessage server further comprises means for keeping track of which one ofthe messages originates from which one of the terminals in saidplurality of mobile terminals.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1wherein the message server further comprises means for keeping track ofwhich one of the messages has been accessed by which one of theterminals in said plurality of mobile terminals.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the message server further comprises meansfor keeping track on a group by group basis of which ones of theterminals in said plurality of mobile terminals are simultaneouslyconnected to the message server.